External Version

After a valiant effort by all Baby Smith remains breech.

In an effort to get baby to flip Ryan and I decided to let the doctors try an external version. Unfortunately, the procedure didn’t work. Fortunately, baby (or mom) didn’t have any complications from it either.

We arrived at the hospital at 5 PM last night and once we got the paperwork filled out were admitted upstairs to the maternity ward where they got me set up in my own room. In preparation of the worst case scenario they had to prep me just in case we needed an emergency c-section so I had my blood drawn, a helplock inserted (like an outlet for IVs) and I couldn’t eat/drink (had to cut off at noon and I think that was the worst part of it all!!).

I was on the fetal heart monitor for about an hour and a half so they could get a good read that baby was ok and ready for the procedure. While we waited Ryan worked on his computer and I read and napped to the sound of baby’s heart beat. Then at about 7:30 PM my doctor (Dr. Newel) and her colleague (Dr. B) arrived. They were in good spirits which helped ease any worries I had. They did a quick ultrasound to check baby’s position (still head up/butt down), gave me a shot in the arm with medicine that would relax my tummy muscles, then lubed up my belly with lots of jelly. Since this procedure is not very common anymore (most women just opt for a c-section) we had quite an audience. Besides Ryan, Dr. Newel, Dr. B and my nurse we also had another OB and NP there to observe.

The docs started rubbing my belly and once they got a good feel where baby’s head and bottom they grabbed on and tried to wiggle and turn baby loose. While my muscle’s were supposedly relaxed it still took all my concentration (and Ryan’s encouragement) to stay calm and just breathe. After 10 minutes (they don’t like to do any longer) of twisting and intermittent fetal heart monitoring they determined that while baby’s upper body/head would move back and forth baby’s bottom was stuck in place!

Since we knew that it was only a 50% chance that the procedure would work we weren’t too surprised that it didn’t but since we had been so hopeful it was still disappointing for us all. I had to remain in bed and on the fetal heart monitor (with no food or drink) for another 2 hours so they could make sure baby wasn’t distressed before we could finally go home at 10:30 PM.

Overall I’m glad we did it and that there weren’t any complications. Baby was a trooper and I’m just a little sore today but as everyone is telling me, “welcome to motherhood”. It seems like this just the start of making choices and being responsible for another life besides my own.
We are still hoping Baby Smith will flip before D-day. The countdown has begun. We thank those of you who have been praying and supporting us. We love you very much and are so very grateful.